What were the basic provisions of the various Forest Acts passed during the colonial rule?

What were the basic provisions of the various Forest Acts passed during the colonial rule?

Ans.

(i) Through the Forest Acts, forests which produced commercially valuable timber like deodar or sal were declared ‘Reserved’.

(ii) No pastoralists was allowed access to these forests.

(iii) Other forests were classified as ‘Protected’. In these forests, some customary grazing rights of pastoralists were granted but their movements were severely restricted.

(iv) They were restricted from practicing shifting cultivation.